Guide Note

On April 18, 1906, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco, California, collapsing buildings and causing out of control fires to ravage the city for four days. The earthquake ruptured the ground along 270 miles of the San Andreas Fault, severely damaging much of the Bay Area and the Northern coast of California as well.

Fast Facts

1. Occurred: April 18, 1906, at 5:12 A.M.
2. Magnitude: Estimated to be 7.8
3. Shocks were felt from Oregon to Los Angeles and Nevada
4. More than 3,000 people were killed
5. 225,000-300,000 people lost their homes (50-75% of the population)
6. Damage: $500 million
7. Fire destroyed over 500 city blocks
8. More than 28,000 buildings were burned
9. Martial law was declared and looters ordered shot on sight
10. More than 500 people were shot by police, military and vigilantes
11. First major natural disaster to be photographed

Although the earthquake caused substantial property damage and loss of life, the resulting fires wreaked the most destruction. Some fires were caused by broken gas lines and campfires made by the newly homeless. Many, however, were started by building owners who wanted to make claims on insurance policies that covered fire damage but not earthquakes. Water mains broken by the earthquake made water scarce, leading to further property loss when firefighters ineffectively attempted to create fire breaks by dynamiting buildings.

"Not in history has a modern imperial city been so completely destroyed. San Francisco is gone. Nothing remains of it but memories and a fringe of dwelling-houses on its outskirts."—Jack London

"Many burned-out people passed our house with bundles and ropes around their necks, dragging heavy trunks. From the moment they heard that fatal, heart-rending sound of the trumpet announcing their house would be burned or dynamited, they had to move on or be shot."—Rosa Barenda, eyewitness